India had lost the first test by a small margin and much was expected of the Indian cricket team in the second test played at Lords. The portents were not good as India has lost 12 of the 18 tests played at Lords. The test was covered by Sony sports. The test started on a dismal note as there were rain and heavy cloud cover. These conditions were tailor-made for the English seam attack led by Jimmy Anderson. Worse, Kohli lost the toss and Joe Root asked India to bat. In overcast conditions, Anderson swung the ball prodigiously and no Indian batsman could face him.

He took 5-20 and effectively broke the back of the Indian batting. In.com reported that English fans taunted the Indian team pointing out the poor show by the Indian skipper.

First innings

The first innings was crucial but India folded up for 107. The crucial point was the runout of Cheteshwara Pujara who, in a mix up with Kohli, was out for 1. Chesteshwara had looked solid and faced 23 balls but after he left, the floodgates opened and despite a few hits by Ashwin, no Indian batsman had an answer to the swing and swerve of Anderson and Broad. India lasted just 37 overs.

Blunders galore

Kohli and Shastri had committed another blunder in team selection by bringing in leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. His selection on a seaming wicket was a blunder and obviously, he failed.

In support of Kohli, it can be mentioned that when England batted they had the better of the conditions and piled up 396 for 7 before Root declared. But no Indian bowler made an impression as England batted with clinical efficiency.

Anderson

India started their second innings on the fourth day and their only hope of saving the game dependent on the rain.

Unfortunately when India batted the clouds came back and once again the Indian batsmen's inadequacy against good swing bowling was exposed. From the time when Anderson clean bowled Murli for a duck, the Indian batsmen gave a poor exhibition of batting on a seaming wicket. Kohli the most accomplished batsman also failed. Though Pujara and later Hardik tried hard, there was no spine in the Indian batting as they just mustered 130 all out.

The Hindustan Times reported that India thus lost the test by an innings and 159 runs. One has to look at the record books to see when India lost by such a big margin.

Analogy of Mankad

There are still three tests to be played but England holds the upper hand and it looks almost impossible that India can claw back into the series. The situation is dire and one is reminded of the 1952 Indian tour of England under Vijay Hazare when India put up a dismal show. At that time, the great Vinoo Mankad was drafted into the team and he promptly took five wickets and hit 184 to lend respectability to India.

Maybe India could think of redrafting MS Dhoni into the team as a wicketkeeper-batsman as his substitute Karthik, has failed miserably.